CELEBRATE TRADITION
Junior Ring Day Mass
Traditions Continue During Pandemic at Pomona Catholic School. The pandemic has forced everyone to be flexible and creative. That included Junior Ring Day and the annual Thanksgiving food drive.
Junior Ring Day Mass was held on the basketball court at Pomona Catholic School. Fr. Chris Santangelo, SS.CC., pastor of Holy Name of Mary Parish in LaVerne, CA, was the celebrant. Students were allowed only one guest due to social distancing guidelines. The class officers brought up symbols of their class, named the Pathfinders, before the entrance procession to add to the ambience, including the mosaic the girls made during their Sophomore retreat as a sign of building the unity and sister hood that will carry them through for years.
Casino Night 2020, Casino Night 2020, the school’s annual and largest fundraiser of the year, was successfully held virtually. KABC-7 morning meteorologist, Alumna Leslie Lopez ’01, served as mistress of ceremonies. The three-hour event was packed with excitement, including S Julianna Francis Marie Vagnozzi pulling the winning tickets of the Fall Raffle, Bingo, silent auction and live auction. The evening’s Fund a Need raised $10,000.00 for the refurbishing of the courtyard. This will include removal of asphalt, installation of artificial turf and building of two prayer corners, one dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the second to St. Francis of Assisi, where students can pause and leave prayer petitions. The green, inviting courtyard will be a more tranquil and inviting area for the students.
The Senior Thanksgiving prayer service The Senior Thanksgiving prayer service was held virtually on November 24, 2020. Class officers chose classmates to lead prayers, compose petitions and write reflections on scripture. Every class had a chance to participate by submitting those things for which they were thankful. These lists were read by a senior. It was obvious that the Senior took great pride in their work and truly opened their hearts in composing their prayers. Seeds of Hope participants from 2018 and 2019 gave beautiful reflections on giving.
Getting ready for Advent Getting ready for Advent is always the last task before going home for the short break. Senior Lilianna helped Sr. Julianna hang the Advent ribbons under the arms of the Risen Christ which welcomes everyone to Pomona Catholic.
06 POMONA CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Leslie Lopez ’01
Brownie’s Baskets The annual Thanksgiving Food Drive was renamed Brownie’s Baskets in honor of Miss Linda Brown who served as school receptionist for the past 28 years. Miss Brown retired on October 1, 2020. She always had food and water available for anyone who was without. The annual food drive was her special project, so it was appropriate to rename it in her honor. Campus Ministry members packed twenty bags from food donated by school families and alumni, with another 13 bags donated by our local State Senator. These bags were shared between St. Joseph and St. Madeleine parishes. The remaining canned and boxed foods were given to the food pantry at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Claremont, CA.
| POMONACATHOLIC.ORG
